MLB Power Rankings: Surprising Giants roll to top, AL powers slump

Welcome to the seventh edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2021 season.

1. San Francisco Giants

It's June 21 and the Giants own the best winning percentage in baseball. They've hit more homers than anyone in the NL and have scored more runs than all teams in their league except the Dodgers. San Francisco's starting staff also ranks fifth in ERA, with Kevin Gausman (8-1, 1.51 ERA, 10.3 K/9) continuing to make a strong bid for the Cy Young. The Giants have enjoyed a soft schedule of late but will have some real tests against the Athletics and Dodgers to end the month.

2. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers seem to have rediscovered their swagger over the past two weeks. They're 12-5 in June, though they've played some of the worst teams in baseball. Mookie Betts is starting to heat up, Albert Pujols has shored up a glaring weakness by raking against left-handers, and the pitching staff is rounding into form. L.A. will likely get a big boost this week when Cody Bellinger finally returns from the injured list. The defending champs could soon be flexing their muscles in full.

3. Houston Astros

Carlos Correa sees similarities between the 2021 Astros and the juggernaut squads from 2017 and 2019, and his assessment seems accurate based on how Houston has played of late. The Astros have won seven straight and are 16-4 over their last 20 games thanks to an offense that leads MLB's June rankings in fWAR, homers, RBIs, and batting average. Correa (1.206 OPS, 6 HR, 13 RBI) and Jose Altuve (1.053 OPS, 9 HR, 16 RBIs) have been monstrous this month.

4. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox entered last Thursday with the best run differential in the American League before they ran into the buzzsaw Astros, who outscored Chicago by 19 runs during a four-game sweep. An upcoming two-game set against the lowly Pirates before returning home - the White Sox are 15 games above .500 at Guaranteed Rate Field - should help cure the effects of the Houston series.

5. Tampa Bay Rays

The Rays stubbed their toe this week, dropping six contests in a row - including a four-game sweep against Seattle - to fall out of first place. But all of that was forgotten in an instant Sunday night when it was reported Wander Franco, MLB's top prospect, will be called up Tuesday. Franco is regarded as a future franchise player, and his arrival could inject some life into the Rays as they start a huge series with the rival Red Sox.

6. Oakland Athletics

Matt Olson has gone on a tear this month, registering eight multi-hit contests and seven homers. He's now slashing .305/.381/.617 with 20 round-trippers and 53 RBIs in 2021. But despite Olson's heroics, the Athletics saw their seven-game winning streak snapped Saturday. After two straight losses to end the weekend, they're now in a virtual tie with the Astros for top spot in the AL West, with Houston barely ahead by percentage points.

7. Boston Red Sox

The Red Sox wrestled the division lead away from the Rays after winning four of their last six. J.D. Martinez, Rafael Devers, and Xander Bogaerts continue to lead a high-powered offense. Devers and Bogaerts are projected to be rewarded for their efforts with an All-Star Game berth, and the former sits second in the majors with 57 RBIs. There are major cracks starting to show in the rotation, however, as the starters own a 7.51 ERA over the last 15 days.

8. San Diego Padres

The Padres recovered from a 1-5 road trip with an easy four-game sweep of the Reds over the weekend. That they held serve at Petco Park is hardly shocking - their 25 home wins are tied for third-most in the majors - but they've been an entirely different team on the road, playing sub-.500 ball and owning just one road win in June. That's a large part of why this excellent team is only in third place and five games back of the first-place Giants.

9. New York Mets

The Mets are hoping Francisco Lindor's two-homer, five-RBI eruption Saturday will finally get the four-time All-Star going. The shortstop owns a .678 OPS through 64 games, which is well off his career .822 mark. New York will get a major boost with Michael Conforto, Jeff McNeil, and Brandon Nimmo nearing returns from the IL. The club managed to stay in first in the NL East thanks to a pitching staff led by Jacob deGrom, who again escaped a serious injury after leaving his last start with shoulder soreness.

10. Chicago Cubs

The Cubs look like buyers rather than sellers with the trade deadline about a month away, but that could change quickly. Chicago has dropped to a tie with the Brewers for first in the NL Central after losing five of its last seven games, including two of three to the Marlins over the weekend. Pitching has been a problem, with Cubs starters combining for a 6.48 ERA since June 14. The club will need need to address the issue by acquiring someone better than Jake Arrieta and Trevor Williams, or it might be about time to blow things up.

11. New York Yankees

Aaron Boone can breathe a little again now that the Yankees have won five of six, including a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays. New York hasn't looked like the World Series contender many expected heading into the season. What's even more concerning is what kind of pitcher Gerrit Cole is going to be after the MLB crackdown on sticky substances. The ace has a 4.26 ERA, 4.95 FIP, and 9.4 K/9 over three starts (19 innings) since word leaked of the league's intentions.

12. Milwaukee Brewers

Where would the Brewers be without Willy Adames? He's energized the lineup since being acquired from the Rays on May 21 by posting an .839 OPS with 14 extra-base hits and 18 RBIs in 28 games. His .521 slugging percentage in June ranks third among qualified hitters on the team and sixth among NL shortstops. His bat has been a terrific complement to Christian Yelich and Luis Urias, who have enjoyed terrific months as well.

13. Toronto Blue Jays

Are the Blue Jays willing to punt a potential MVP season from Vladimir Guerrero Jr. because of an injury-ravaged bullpen? Toronto's relievers allowed a whopping 38 earned runs over 18 games in June. The club has gone 8-10 this month, which includes a recent five-game losing skid. On a positive note, George Springer's return to the lineup looks imminent; it's too bad he can't pitch.

14. Cleveland Indians

Aaron Civale is facing even more pressure to perform during his breakout campaign with Shane Bieber joining Zach Plesac on the IL. Civale owns a 3.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and an MLB-best 10 wins despite not registering big strikeout numbers. Cleveland's listless offense will get a jolt with Franmil Reyes potentially returning at the end of June or early July.

15. St. Louis Cardinals

Jack Flaherty's injury was a blow to the Cardinals' hopes, and their season has spiraled in the weeks that have followed. They've now dropped 11 of their last 16 contests, including three of four to the Braves over the weekend. They're only four games out of first place, but the deficit feels much bigger right now.

16. Cincinnati Reds

The Reds are still just four games back of the Cubs and Brewers in the NL Central despite falling to .500 after getting swept in San Diego. Make no mistake, this team is flawed as presently constructed. Nick Castellanos, Jesse Winker, and Tyler Stephenson are their only hitters who sport an OPS above .800 (minimum 100 plate appearances). Wade Miley is the only starter with an ERA below three. In any other division, the Reds wouldn't be close to contending.

17. Philadelphia Phillies

It's incredible that the Phillies are sitting near .500 considering they haven't been able to field their best team for most of the campaign. Entering Sunday, Philadelphia was without starting infielders Didi Gregorius and Jean Segura, as well Andrew Knapp, Roman Quinn, and Matt Joyce. For the season, only Rhys Hoskins, Alec Bohm, and Andrew McCutchen have appeared in more than 60 games.

18. Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuna Jr. hit his 100th career long ball Sunday, becoming the fifth player ever to reach 100 home runs and 70 stolen bases before age 24. The franchise is in good hands with Acuna playing every day, which is important to remember during what's quickly becoming a lost season for the Braves. They're just 4-6 in their last 10, and despite owning a powerful offense - at least on paper - they're now sporting a negative run differential.

19. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have won seven of their last eight, highlighted by a four-game sweep of the Rays that culminated in a walk-off grand slam. It was enough to almost make you forget they still own the second-worst offensive unit in baseball and are bottom 10 in total pitching production. For the perpetually rebuilding Mariners, simply sitting above .500 and in third place entering late June is progress worth celebrating.

20. Washington Nationals

Losing Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg to injuries hasn't been as bad as expected so far. Washington has won seven of eight, including three against the NL-East leading Mets. Kyle Schwarber's been a force, going deep 18 times - five in his last two games - and boasting a .518 slugging percentage.

21. Los Angeles Angels

We're running out of ways to praise Shohei Ohtani. He's now hit 23 home runs - a career high in both the majors and Japan and is tied for the league lead - and also owns a 2.70 ERA with 73 strikeouts. He pitches and is going to hit bombs in the Home Run Derby. He's stolen 10 bases and has a 169 ERA+. Ohtani is singlehandedly salvaging another disappointing Angels season and is really the only reason to watch this team.

22. Miami Marlins

Adam Duvall stepped up over the weekend. The Marlins outfielder crushed four home runs and drove in 10 runs against the Cubs, pushing his RBI total to a team-leading 52, which is also tied for sixth in baseball. Duvall and Jesus Aguilar have combined to drive in 102 of Miami's 266 RBIs this season.

23. Kansas City Royals

The Royals are slumping again after bouncing back in May. Kansas City has gone 6-12 in June, a stretch that includes just 19 runs scored over a recent six-game losing streak. The offense just isn't good enough at the moment. Outside of Salvador Perez, the lineup doesn't have a single qualified player with an .800 OPS or better. 2019 AL home run champion Jorge Soler is slashing .183/.283/.329 with just six round-trippers over 64 contests.

24. Minnesota Twins

The Twins have won four straight and are beginning to show signs of life. Nelson Cruz, Josh Donaldson, Jorge Polanco, and Ryan Jeffers have all hit four or more home runs and own slugging percentages over .551 this month. Factor in the returns of Byron Buxton and Luis Arraez, and a healthy Twins squad could be primed to make up some ground in the AL Central, with six of its last eight games in June coming against the Indians and White Sox.

25. Detroit Tigers

Every bad team needs a bright spot or two during a lost season, and right now for the Tigers that is Jonathan Schoop. The veteran infielder owns a 1.220 OPS in June and is essentially carrying the Tigers' otherwise listless offense through the month. If he keeps hitting like this, Schoop should fetch the Tigers some nice pieces at the trade deadline.

26. Colorado Rockies

Colorado isn't allowed to have nice things. Rockies right-hander Austin Gomber recently hit the injured list after allowing two earned runs or fewer in eight consecutive starts, which followed the loss of Jon Gray to a flexor strain in his elbow while in the midst of a solid year. On a positive note, Raimel Tapia has a 17-game hitting streak going, and C.J. Cron and Ryan McMahon are enjoying some success.

27. Texas Rangers

The clock is ticking for Joey Gallo as July's trade deadline approaches and Texas finds itself in a six-game skid. The hard-hitting outfielder might be the Rangers' best piece of trade bait, with a number of clubs surely targeting his 132 career homers and Gold Glove defense.

28. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles can't win on the road but at least they finally have some promising young players to build around. Ryan Mountcastle owns seven multi-hit games in June, including a three-homer performance Saturday, while Cedric Mullins collected back-to-back multi-homer contests over the weekend. Add top prospect Adley Rutschman to the mix, and brighter days are ahead in Baltimore.

29. Pittsburgh Pirates

Ke'Bryan Hayes and Adam Frazier continue to be two bright spots in another forgettable campaign for the Pirates. Hayes has 17 hits in 17 games and has accrued a career 1.002 OPS over 41 contests since entering the league last season. Meanwhile, Frazier is tied for the MLB lead with 23 doubles and should be a hot commodity before the trade deadline.

30. Arizona Diamondbacks

On paper, this Diamondbacks team doesn't seem this bad. But games are played on the field, and this is absolutely no fun to watch. This past week, Arizona set a modern-era record by losing its 23rd straight road contest. The team has lost 17 straight overall and now owns a minus-107 run differential, easily the worst in baseball. The long slide has left the D-Backs 10 games behind the Rockies, who are 13 games below .500 themselves. It's going to be a very, very long summer in the desert.